Hong Kong defender embracing big-game buzz for Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore
Leon Jones aiming for Saudi Arabia 2027 spot after injury wrecked his chances of going to Qatar finals last year
The leader of Hong Kong’s defence, Leon Jones, said the big-game buzz he expected to experience in Tuesday’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore was “the reason why I play football”.
And the centre back called for cool heads, as Ashley Westwood’s team aim to begin their Saudi Arabia 2027 quest with a record-extending eighth straight victory.
Jones, who should earn his 10th cap at the 55,000-seat Singapore National Stadium, said while “big games in big venues” were what got players excited, he tried not to think about it in those terms.
“It’s just another game where we need to do well,” he said. “The past seven games have gone really well, the confidence is there and we’re trying to continue the same way.”
Over the course of winning those seven matches, Hong Kong have kept five clean sheets and conceded just twice. That sequence followed an inauspicious beginning for head coach Westwood, when his side lost 1-0 in Liechtenstein.
“The players have become much more comfortable in the style Ashley [Westwood] wants to implement,” said Jones, who operates between Chinese Super League (CSL) pair Shinichi Chan and Oliver Gerbig in an established back three.